The best pocket squares you can buy

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Pocket squares are a fun accessory that can add some flair or old-school class to your suit. If you only ever buy one pocket square in your lifetime, make it J.Crew's hand-rolled linen white pocket square. It's classic, it goes with everything, and it's very well made.

When pocket squares burst back onto the menswear scene in recent years, more than a few people thought they were just another short-lived style fad, but now that the dust has settled, it's obvious that this classic men's accessory is here to stay. Like cufflinks and tie bars, this old suit staple almost went the way of the dinosaur in the 20th century owing to relaxed dress standards and general lack of interest.

Thankfully, the tide is turning. The internet has spawned a renewed love for classic menswear, and younger generations of guys are rediscovering the old ways. If you've already got your suits, shirts, and ties squared away, then it's time to add a few pocket squares to your stable.

Our favorite pocket squares cover all the style bases, from the indispensable white pocket square to more colorful options. All of our picks feature quality fabrics and construction and come from some of our own favorite menswear brands.

The best white pocket square

The first principle of menswear is timeless style, but there are a handful of icons that stand out among the rest, including the simple white pocket square. It looks great, it goes with everything, it's almost always appropriate, and it'll never go out of style. If you only ever buy and wear one pocket square in your life, get this white pocket square from J Crew.

J. Crew has stepped up its suit game in recent years, offering a great lineup of tailored menswear and accessories, including our top pick for the best pocket square. Hand-crafted in the UK, this pocket square is made of linen that's sourced from an old English mill.

The rolled edges lend the cloth a nice body and a neat, soft look at the tips, as opposed to more cheaply-made examples that are folded over and machine-stitched.

The linen cloth also features just a hint of off-white creaminess and a distinct texture that gives it a visual character unique from flat white cotton.

At $42, the J. Crew linen pocket square is a little pricey compared to our other picks, but given its unmatched versatility and English pedigree, it's more than worth it. Every man needs at least one high-quality white pocket square, so you may as well make it a good one.

Pros: Timeless and versatile style, quality English craftsmanship with hand-rolled edges, and the woven linen lends the pocket square a distinct look and feel

Cons: The linen is a bit less substantial than cotton, and it's fairly expensive

The best gingham pocket square

After you've got a nice solid white pocket square, it's time to start adding some color to your suiting arsenal. Subtle patterns like gingham are a great way to do this without resulting in an ensemble that's too visually busy or loud. Gingham is also a hugely popular choice for spring and summer shirts and accessories, as the simple pattern works beautifully with lighter shades and pastels.

Among the entire field of menswear, pocket squares are probably the one thing you really don't need to be fussy about spending good money on so long as the quality is there. You'll generally get just as much enjoyment and style out of a $10 square as you will a high-end one that costs $100 or more, as this gingham number from Nordstrom Rack proves.

This 100% silk square looks great and is super-affordable without cutting corners where it counts. Rolled edges offer a soft look, and the solid-colored border adds an extra splash of color for when you want forgo the standard presidential fold for a more adventurous pointed fold that shows off the corners of the pocket square.

You've got a large number of different color options here, but our recommendation would be sky blue or pink, which are both a great complement to lighter spring and summer suits.

However, there's no reason to avoid darker colors like navy blue or burgundy, which also work extremely well with gingham. At only $10, you may as well grab two or three of these Nordstrom silk squares to add to your stable.

Pros: It's made of 100% silk, the gingham pattern is highly versatile and perfect for spring and summer outfits, you've got a ton of color options, and it's a great value at only $10

Cons: Silk is a little fussier than linen or cotton when it comes to cleaning

The best plaid pocket square

Plaid, also frequently referred to as "tartan," has been worn for centuries, originating in the British Isles and dating back to the early Middle Ages. It's now worn worldwide and remains popular today for one simple reason: It looks fantastic and is extremely versatile.

Plaids with dark reds, greens, and black are especially common, particularly for fall and winter clothing and accessories, so it's only fitting that our pick features a great-looking Stewart tartan that shows off these colors. This Brooks Brothers pocket square is made of cotton and strikes the perfect color balance, not veering too far into monotone territory with its great-looking red, black, and green plaid accented with subtle touches of blue, white, and yellow.

Of course, there's no real reason you can't wear this Brooks Brothers tartan square year-round, and given how attractive it is, you'll probably want to. Think dark grays like charcoal or earth-tones like olive and brown. Tweed and herringbone jackets are also just asking to be worn with this, as are your thick wool ties.

The Stewart plaid adds a nice splash of deep color while still remaining suitably conservative and warm-toned for a fall or winter ensemble. At only $20, there's no reason that the Brooks Brothers tartan pocket square shouldn't be the one you reach for when the clouds roll out and Old Man Winter rears his hoary head.

Pros: The Stewart tartan pattern is perfect for fall and winter suits and jackets, the square adds a touch of warm color without being garish, and it's a solid value at $20

The best contrast tipped pocket square

Tipped pocket squares have blown up on the menswear scene recently and have quickly become a staple of modern suiting style. This design puts a novel spin on the classic white square, featuring colored edges that add a subtle touch of color and contrast to your get-up.

This tipped pocket square is inexpensive but doesn't skimp on quality. It's made of 100% cotton and features soft hand-rolled edges for a clean, sophisticated look. A tipped square is somewhat less formal than the classic solid white, but it's the perfect way to casually introduce some color to your outfit.

The Tie Bar offers this cotton pocket square in a variety of edge colors to choose from, too. At only $10 each, it's not a bad idea to grab a few. Consider a couple lighter-colored tips like orange or lavender for spring and summer along with some darker shades like hunter green or eggplant as more conservative looks.

Pros: Hand-rolled colored edges offer an interesting visual contrast, you've got a myriad of colors to choose from to suit almost any outfit, and it's priced right at just $10 per square

Cons: The tipped edges may be slightly too casual for certain environments and occasions

The best colorful print pocket square

Charles Tyrwhitt

Why you'll love it: When you want to add some color to your suit and have a bit of fun, this printed pocket square from Charles Tyrwhitt is just the ticket.

All of our picks so far have been pretty conservative, which is generally the rule for menswear, especially when it comes to suiting. Nonetheless, accessories are the best and easiest way to spruce up an outfit, so we've included one bright and colorful pocket square for those occasions where you plan to rock a suit or blazer but also want to have a little fun.

With a printed pocket square, the colors are more important than the pattern itself. Remember, only an inch or less of the square is usually going to be showing above your chest pocket, so the full pattern won't be that visible. It's all about the colors and the unique way that a print like paisley expresses these shades.

A paisley pocket square might not be something you wear to the boardroom, but this square from Charles Tyrwhitt is the perfect choice for adding a burst of color to your suit without looking gaudy. The paisley pocket square is made of 100% silk and is hand-finished, as the soft rolled edges show.

Four color options are available, each one with some unique style elements like printed edges that break up the central pattern a bit and offer a nice contrast to the paisley. Along with being colorful, these shades are also highly versatile, so they'll go great with most of the suits and jackets hanging in your closet.

Pros: It's made of 100% silk, soft hand-rolled edges, great colors in an attractive printed paisley pattern, and it's a good value at $25

Cons: The paisley won't suit everybody's taste, and the bold and colorful style isn't appropriate for certain work environments and occasions

Check out our other guides for men's workwear

The fundamentals of men's style are all about classic design, and it doesn't get more classic than a dark brown Oxford dress shoe. The Allen Edmonds Park Avenue is an all-time favorite and our top pick due to its timeless style, quality full-grain leather, durable Goodyear welted construction, and American-made pedigree.

No suit is complete without a great necktie. For your staple tie, it's hard to beat black, and this luxurious silk tie from Turnbull and Asser hits every mark. Its high-quality bias-cut Italian silk looks wonderful, drapes beautifully, and works with any type of knot.

Every man needs at least one good white dress shirt. Fine Italian-woven cotton, old-school American craftsmanship, and a great trim fit make the Brooks Brothers Golden Fleece shirt a must-have for the modern gentleman. Its versatile spread collar looks great with or without a tie, so you can pair this timeless staple with almost any outfit.

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